Washington, DC: As per a written press release by Sikh Gurdwara DC and Sikh Council US: Surinder Singh, Granthi of Sikh Gurdwara, Washington, DC, appeared in front of the Panj Pyaras on Sunday, June 26, 2016, per Sikh tradition to atone himself from the mistake of participating in an Amrit ceremony in which Sikh Rehat Maryada was altered.
As per release, [i]n April, Kuldip Singh of Virginia, performed a ceremony in which the recitation of the banis was altered and Surinder Singh took part in this ceremony. Later he apologized from the sangat but a formal process of submitting per Sikh tradition was still due.
Surinder Singh of Washington Submits to Panj Pyaras for Forgiveness and Atonement
He presented himself in front of Panj Pyaras in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib and sangat members on Sunday morning. With folded hands, he humbly admitted to participating in an act which was a major transgression against the Panthic Rehat Maryada of Amrit ceremony and also asked for forgiveness. He appealed that he is ready to go through any punishment to atone himself. He committed that in future he will never take any action against the norms and traditions of the Sikh faith. An Ardas was done and final session was held.
Panj Pyaras deliberated and one of the pyara, Raja Singh, announced the decision in front of the gathered community members that Surinder Singh has to recite Sukhmani Sahib for 11 Sundays and perform langar sewa for 11 Sundays and at the end of this sewa, he must donate 21 dollars and have an Ardas done for his final forgiveness. Surinder Singh in an act of humility accepted the decision of the panel of Panj Pyaras.
This special ceremony concluded with final Ardas (prayer) and a hukumnama was taken from Guru Granth Sahib.
Dr. Daljit Singh Sawhney, Mukh Sevadar of the Sikh Gurdwara DC, thanked the panj pyaras and said “We followed the instructions given to us by the gathering of all the East Coast Sikh gurdwaras and organizations gathered in Singh Sabha Gurdwara in May. We are committed to following Sikh Rehat Maryada under the aegis of Akal Takht and will continue to work for the chardhi kala of the community.”
He further added, “A report of these deliberations will be sent to all the various Panthic entities and organizations in India and abroad to make sure that the community is informed all over the world. We are aware that Sikh sentiments were heart due to this violation and we want everyone to know that corrective measures have been taken according to Sikh Maryada.”
Dr. Rajwant Singh, Secretary of Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, said, “We are pleased that Surinder Singh has admitted to his mistake publicly and has taken the step to present himself per Sikh traditions. We appeal to others who took part in this violation to present themselves and join the mainstream of the Sikhi.” Dr. Singh was member of the coordination committee which brought together gurdwaras of the East coast of the United States to deal with challenging issue of alteration of the Sikh Amrit ceremony.
He added, “A positive message has gone from here that solutions to all problems can be found if we work together and embrace each other.”
Dr. Sawhney thanked the members of the sangat and representatives of all gurdwaras and organizations who had come together to find solution to this challenging situation.